
MYCOLOGY
Utah Valley University - BIOL1620
This webpage will host links to all resources and videos, and serves as a roadmap for the semester, listing readings, assignments, etc.
Course overview:
The course consists of several components:
- Required readings
- Textbook: Webster and Weber, Introduction to Fungi - 3rd ed. (specific sections)
- Scientific papers: Usually weekly, linked below
- Fun book: Mr. Bloomfield’s Orchard, by Nicholas Money
- Weekly quizzes on reading material (on Canvas)
- Assorted “home mycology” lab and field exercises (on Canvas)
- Exams (3 of these, on Canvas, open-note)
- Project: Design a new fungus
Quick links:
Good web resources:
21st Century Guidebook to Fungi (This is pretty useful for this class!) Full download link for older edition (zipped).
Cornell’s Virtual Fungal Library (Extensive links to resources!)
Fungal Gene Database (Exactly what it sounds like.)
Emerging fungal diseases CDC resource page for those with a medical bent
Nice YouTube Channel with videos featuring do-it-at-home mycology
Table of Contents
Week 1 | Week 5 | Week 9 | Week 13
Week 2 | Week 6 | Week 10 | Week 14
Week 3 | Week 7 | Week 11 | Week 15
Week 4 | Week 8 | Week 12 | Week 16
Week 1
Topics:
- What are fungi? | Chytrids and divergence from metazoa | Fungal phylogeny
Readings and Assignments
- Study the lesson slides (link below)
- Read James, et al., 2006
- Read Webster & Weber: 1.1 | 1.5 | 6.1
- Canvas quiz on readings (due before class Thursday)
- Find and grow zygomycete fungi (Canvas assignment; video walkthrough below)
- Get “Mr. Bloomfield’s Orchard” by Nicholas Money (LINK)
- Slack discussion on readings (Thursday 11:15am)
Resources
Videos
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Week 2
Topics
- The “hyphal lifestyle” | Fungal physiology | Zygomycetes | Reproduction in fungi
Readings and Assignments
- Read Fisher, et al., 2018 (Have a phylogeny of Zygomycetes at the ready while you read this)
- Read Webster & Weber: 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 7.3.1 | 7.3.2
- Canvas quiz on readings (due before class Thursday)
- Slack discussion on readings (Thursday 11:15am)
Resources
Videos
- Generic Zygomycete life cycle video
- Another life cycle video
- Zygospore formation video
- Hyphal types video (though she mispronounces “coenocytic” … it’s like “see - no - sit - ic”)
- Mucor as a human pathogen video
- Mucor as a model of Zygomycete anatomy video (ridiculous music warning)
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Week 3
Topics
- Ascomycetes | Species concept in fungi | Anamorphs and Teleomorphs | Dikaryotism
Readings and Assignments
- Read Webster & Weber: 8 | 10.2 | 12.1 | 12.2.1
- Canvas quiz on readings
- Slack discussion on readings
Resources
- [Major Topics]
- ascus formation video
Videos
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Week 4
Topics
Readings and Assignments
- Read Webster & Weber: 18 | 19.1 | 20.1 | 21.1 | 24.1
- Canvas quiz on readings
- Slack discussion on readings
Resources
Videos
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Week 5
Topics
- Fungal development | Mushroom mechanics | Active dispersal
Readings and Assignments
Resources
Videos
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Week 6
Topics
Readings and Assignments
Resources
Videos
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Week 7
Topics
Readings and Assignments
Resources
Videos
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Week 8
Topics
- Distribution and dispersal | Population ecology
Readings and Assignments
Resources
Videos
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Week 9
Topics
Readings and Assignments
- Read Christian, et al., 2017
- Read Money: Chapter 3
- Exam 2 (Covers material from weeks 5-8)
- Development
- Pathology
- Distribution
Resources
Videos
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Week 10
Topics
Readings and Assignments
Resources
Videos
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Week 11
Topics
Readings and Assignments
Resources
Videos
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Week 12
Topics
Readings and Assignments
Resources
Videos
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Week 13
Topics
Readings and Assignments
- Read Dugan, 2008
- Read Money: Chapter 8-9
- Exam 3 (Covers material from weeks 9-12)
Resources
Videos
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Week 14
Thanksgiving Break
Week 15
Topics
- Molecular mycology | Intro to fungal bioinformatics
Readings and Assignments
Resources
Videos
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Week 16
Topics
Readings and Assignments
Resources
Videos
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Final Exam
The final exam is project-based. You will design and illustrate a new fungal species, complete with a detailed life-cycle, physiology, ecology, etc.
For the Final Exam schedule, click here